Black Sea drone attacks enter NATO country's territorial waters for first time

Russian drones have breached the territorial waters of NATO member nations for the first time, attacking ships in the Black Sea off the coasts of Bulgaria and Romania. The incidents have sunk a cargo vessel and ignited chemical tankers, with at least seven ships now affected within the exclusive economic zones of NATO countries, including Romania's territorial waters.

In response to these attacks, NATO's Secretary General Mark Rutte announced on October 15 that the alliance had bolstered its counter-drone capabilities along its eastern flank following meetings with the leaders of Bulgaria and Romania. The latest assaults transpired within a 24-hour period between October 14 and October 15, when the chemical tankers were set ablaze after Russian drones were identified in Romanian airspace, according to Deutsche Welle.

Both vessels were anchored near the Sulina canal, a vital shipping route for Ukraine, as reported by Reuters.